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Nissan Figaro spotted stateside

2 of 3Nissan built 20,000 Figaros over the vehicle's one-year production run

Photo by Graham Kozak

3 of 3The Figaro sports a clean, functional interior

Photo by Graham Kozak

This Nissan Figaro spotted in metro Detroit might look like another automaker's most recent attempt to jump on the retro-styling bandwagon, but the miniature convertible is nearly a classic in its own right.

Built and sold only in 1991, each of the 20,000 Figaros produced was powered by a turbocharged 1.0-liter I4 engine. The cars also came with a cabriolet top and styling inspired by vintage Datsun roadsters.

Although the Figaro remains popular in Japan and the United Kingdom, it was never sold in the United States. Perhaps this particular vehicle snuck into Michigan by way of Canada, where a small gray market for Figaros exists.

The owner of this particular Figaro can enjoy having one of the only vehicles of its kind in the United States—until 2016, at least. After that, the Figaro is fair game for importation, and we're guessing that enthusiasts won't be able to resist the car's peculiar charm.

Graham Kozak
- Graham Kozak drove a 1951 Packard 200 sedan in high school because he wanted something that would be easy to find in a parking lot. He thinks all the things they're doing with fuel injection and seatbelts these days are pretty nifty too.
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